Ridiculous History

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The Ridiculous, Scrumptious Desserts of Mardi Gras Apr 18, 2023

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From the epic parade to the krewes and flambeaux, Mardi Gras is a celebration chock-full of tradition -- and these traditions include some pretty amazing desserts. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the most ridiculous Mardi Gras desserts (spoiler: it goes way past king cake).

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The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part Two: The World Takeover Apr 13, 2023

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As Matsuzo Kosuge struggled to keep his business afloat amid the chaos of war, he became incredibly inventive, using cast-off beer and soup cans as raw materials and setting up shop in abandoned cattle sheds. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise of Japanese toys.

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The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part One: A Serious Business Apr 11, 2023

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When most of us think of toys, we fondly recall moments from childhood, or think of toys we gifted to loved ones over the years. Yet toys are a serious, big business -- and, more than once, they played a vital role in Japan's postwar economy. In part one of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the amazing story of master toymaker Matsuzo Kosuge.

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The Weird Journey of the $2 Bill Apr 06, 2023

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If you've spent your life in the US, you've probably seen a $2 bill every once in a while -- they're much less common than, say, the $1, the $10 or the $20. In fact, many people assume the $2 bill is a thing of the past... but that turns out not to be true. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origin of the Deuce, why it was so controversial, and why it's still around in the modern day.

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The Fascinating History of Ice Cream Trucks Apr 04, 2023

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The iconic ice cream truck holds a special place in American culture -- but where did they come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the waffle cone of ice cream history for the scoop on one of the world's most successful street food industries. (We also don't actually get to waffle cones, but that's a story for another day.)

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The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part Two: Betrayal and Nostalgia Mar 30, 2023

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As Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese concept took America by storm, competitors entered the field. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Charles Entertainment Cheese weathered numerous ups and downs through the decades -- along with some pretty weird trivia.

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The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part One: Atari and Pizza Mar 28, 2023

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For many Americans, Chuck E. Cheese is an immediate hit of pure nostalgia -- the pizza! The birthdays! The games! And, of course, the characters. In this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the strange history of Chuck E. Cheese, from its founding days in the shadow of Atari, all the way to the modern day.

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CLASSIC: What's the Deal with Smashing Cake at Weddings? Mar 23, 2023

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Weddings are an ancient tradition, and over the millenia the various rituals associated with (theoretically) life-long partnership have evolved and changed. One ritual in particular became both prominent and controversial in the West: the act of newly-married couples smashing wedding cake into each other's faces. So where did it come from? Why does it happen, and what do its critics think the practice means?

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THE LAST SOVIET - EP 5: Three Hot Days in August Mar 22, 2023

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Sergei makes the decision to stay in the space station. But a few weeks later something happens that changes everything. Mikhail Gorbachev disappears. What happens over the next 3 days will decide the future of the Soviet Union once and for all. Three days that changed the world.

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CLASSIC: Conquest via Bird Poop: One Island at a Time Mar 21, 2023

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If you land on a deserted island, you might be tempted to search for the basic stuff first -- food, water, shelter, and so on -- but don't forget to keep an eye out for guano! Why, you ask? Well, due to a relatively obscure law, the presence of guano on a deserted island may allow you to declare it property of the United States! Sort of. Tune into today's classic episode learn more.

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